Can Criminals Affect Climate Change Using the Carbon Market?

INTERPOL fears that forest-CO2 scheme will draw organized crime
Can we call these guys "Carbon Criminals"?
Reuters, 29 May 2009 - Organized crime syndicates are eyeing the nascent forest carbon credit industry as a potentially lucrative new opportunity for fraud, an Interpol environmental crime official said on Friday.
Peter Younger is an environmental crimes specialist for Interpol, the world's largest international police agency. His organized crime fears are related to a U.N.-backed scheme called reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).
The purpose of REDD is aimed at unlocking potentially billions of dollars for developing countries that conserve and restore their forests. In return for their conservation efforts, these countries would earn carbon credits that can be sold for profit to developed nations that ...

Can Renewable Energy Sources Charge Your Cell Phone?

Do you know that you can charge your cell phone with solar energy?
Yes, there is a way to charge virtually any hand-held electronic device using renewable energy sources. It's called a hybrid solar charger. What makes it hybrid? This means that even when the sun isn't shining you can still use the charger. Because, it also accepts power from a wall socket or even from your computer's USB port.
So what else is so great about this solar charger?
It has a high-capacity internal rechargeable battery that stores power for up to one year- charge your devices anytime, day or night when you need it most. It has solar cells to charge its internal battery.
You can add another cool word ...

Can Current Economic Climate Help With Sustainable Development?

Are you concerned about the negative impact that the oil industry has on the sustainable development initiatives for our Earth? The world's out-of-control dependence on fossil fuels causes the oil industry to rape the environment every day. It's nothing new that these fossil fuels add to the carbon releases to our atmosphere. Thus, we are increasing the problem of global warming and climate change.
Now, let's put a favorable twist on our current economic climate. Yes, people have lost jobs and businesses have failed due to our current global crisis. Sad as it is, there are a few good things that can and will come as a result. Let's list a few less obvious ways that our current crisis can have ...

How Does Climate Change Affect Agriculture and Consumers?

The effects of climate change on agricultural production:
What does it mean to consumers?
The effects of climate change on agricultural production go much deeper
than the impact of unusual weather. However, that is the basis for many
of the problems that farmers are facing. Some of the stressing facing
farmers: the pesky weather not only causes floods and droughts that can
affect an entire year of production, but predicting when these might occur
has become even more of a guessing game than in the past.
A warmer climate also means that pathogens -bacteria,
fungus, molds- and harmful insects that have been more
easily controlled in the past become more and more
problematic. Out-of-season rains in the vegetable
growing areas of the world can cause massive outbreaks
of fungus problems. By the ...

How Will the Economic Stimulus Plan Affect Environment and Energy?

Reading through this story in Yahoo News (see quotes below) you can see a rough explanation of where stimulus money is planned to be directed. An effort is being made; a good sign. But, reading through the story you can't help but wonder if throwing money at our economic problems will help or hurt. Part of the reason things got to this point is due to unwise spending, loaning, and profit-mongering.
Yes, putting money in the right places will go a long way to helping with our present dire situation. However, a shift in attitude and ideas must come along with it. If we are to repair what has been broken, we need to look beyond simply throwing money at the ...